Improvements in or relating to combined pilot burners and thermocouples

783,471. Gas burners. ROBERTSHAWFULTON CONTROLS CO. June 28, 1955 [Oct. 15, 1954], No. 18671/55. Class 75(3) [Also in Group XXXVI] The invention consists in a combined pilot burner and thermocouple, and a method of forming the hot thermojunction of a thermocouple having an elongated conductor 22 encased in a metallic cylinder 16; the combined pilot burner and thermocouple comprising a first thermocouple element 22, a second thermocouple element 16 spaced therefrom, one end of each element being joined to form a hot thermojunction, and means including a member 10 having a plurality of ports 12 adjacent the joined ends of the thermocouple elements for directing a flow of non- aerated gas along the axis of the second element 16 to cause a flame to play upon the joined ends; the method comprising the steps of positioning a short piece of metallic rod 35 in end to end abutting relationship with the conductor 22, fusibly uniting the abutting ends, inserting the conductor 22 and rod 35 into the metallic cylinder 16 with the united ends adjacent an open end thereof and fusibly uniting the rod 35 with the open end. An annular disc 28 is secured to the open end of the cylinder 16 and spreads the flame. A sleeve 30 of fibreglass is provided between the cylinder 16 and the conductor 22. The conductor 22 contains nickel and the short piece of metallic rod 35 and the cylinder 16 are nickel-free. The member 10 is tubular and is received in a bore 36 in a burner support 38 supplied with gas through an orifice 48 in the end of a gas supply pipe 46. The lower-end of the cylinder 16 is received in a further bore 50 in the burner support 38. An in. sulated wire 54 is connected to the conductor 22 and a tube 58 encasing the wire 54 is connected to the cylinder 16. The thermocouple is adapted to energize a magnetic valve.